BOSTON - Verizon employees in Massachusetts collected more than $25,000 worth of items to donate to 10 domestic violence shelters during a 12-day Shower for the Shelter drive.

Employees in 30 Verizon locations in the state took part in the recent companywide effort to collect personal care products, clothing and household items for local domestic violence shelters.

"Verizon employees have a long history of giving back to their communities both through volunteerism and donations," said Donna Cupelo, region president of Verizon in New England. "Organizing a Shower for the Shelter drive for domestic violence survivors is just a one way our employees demonstrate their commitment to make a positive impact in their community." Verizon partnered with the National Network to End Domestic Violence to coordinate the Shower for the Shelter donation efforts.

Those shelters receiving donations were: Casa Myrna Vazquez Inc. of Boston; Voices Against Violence of Framingham; YWCA of Greater Lawrence FINA House; HAWC (Help for Abused Women and their Children) of Salem; REACH Beyond Domestic Violence of Somerville; Brockton Family and Community Resources Inc.; Supportive Care Inc. of Lawrence; New Hope Inc. of Attleboro; WIT Inc. d.b.a. Alternative House of Lowell; and Womanshelter/Companeras of Holyoke.

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its free educational Web site, Thinkfinity.org, and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence. In 2008, the Verizon Foundation awarded more than $68 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad. It also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in an additional $26 million in combined contributions to nonprofits. Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered more than 3 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 86 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations provide converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. Wireline also includes Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 237,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.